Quarry Employees Reduce Risks, Boost Productivity

The U.S. Department of Labor says the company completed 2 million work-hours without an employee having to leave work due to an injury.

For years, the Beckman Quarry in San Antonio was known for its high rate of accidents, according to the San Antonio Express-News.

Now, the quarry--which is owned by Martin Marietta Materials--completed 2 million work-hours without an employee having to leave work due to an injury.

A program called Guardian Angel is responsible for the improvement. According to the Express-News, "each month 50 of the company's 500 San Antonio district employees take turns observing 10 co-workers each, noting potential problems and talking one-on-one about safety."

Employees receive incentives--such as fishing equipment and clothing--for offering suggestions to improve safety. The culture at the quarry has changed dramatically, and conversation about safety can be heard everywhere. Improvements in safety have also resulted in a 17 percent increase in productivity.